Zephaniah 3:1-15 ▼

1 Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the oppressing city!

2 She has not listened to His voice, she does not receive discipline; in YHWH she does not trust; to her God she does not draw near.

3 Her princes within her are roaring lions, her judges are wolves of the evening leaving nothing for the morning.

4 Her prophets are reckless, men of treacheries; her priests have profaned the sanctuary; they do violence to the law.

5 YHWH is righteous within her; He will not do injustice; morning by morning He gives His justice; at the light He is not lacking; the unjust one is knowning no shame.

6 “I have cut off nations; their corners are desolate; I have made desolate their streets without one passing through; their cities are destroyed, without a man, with no one dwelling.

7 I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me; you will receive discipline.’ Then her dwelling would not be cut off, by all that I have visited upon her. Nevertheless, they rose early to corrupt all their deeds.

8 Therefore wait for Me,” a declaration of YHWH, “Until the day of My arising to testify. For My judgment is to gather the nations, to assemble unto Me the kingdoms, to pour out on them My indignation, all the burning of my nose! Indeed, with the fire of My jealousy all the earth will be consumed.

9 For then I will turn over to the peoples a lip made pure, to call for all of them on the name of YHWH, to serve Him with one shoulder.

10 From beyond the rivers of Cush, My worshipers, the daughter of My dispersed ones, will bring My offering.

11 On that day you will not feel shame from any of your deeds, with which you have transgressed against Me; for then I will turn away from your midst the jubilant ones of your pride, and you will continue no longer to be haughty on the mountain of My holiness.

12 And I will leave in your midst a people humble and poor, and they will take refuge in the name of YHWH.

13 The remnant of Israel will not do injustice, and they will not speak lies, and in their mouth will not be found a tongue of deceit. For they will feed the flocks and will lie down, and there will not be one frightening them.”

14 Sing out, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!

15 YHWH has turned aside your judgments; He has turned back your enemy; the King of Israel, YHWH, is among you; you will fear evil no more.